WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 2, Episode 2, “Penance,” streaming now on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 has introduced a darker, more sinister Q tampering with the timeline to create a more twisted version of reality. Jean-Luc Picard finds himself back on Earth as the head of a brutal regime that moves to eradicate and enslave any extraterrestrial species that cross their paths (which certainly qualifies as one of the big revelations Patrick Stewart teased). As part of this new narrative, Q takes Picard to a trophy room filled with all his claimed weapons and fallen enemies, providing the tragic history of several fan-favorite Star Trek characters who were personally killed by this reality’s Picard.
Here are all the familiar faces that Picard Season 2 killed in Q’s rewritten reality when they opposed the Confederation of Earth, and how their fate compared to the one they lived out in the prime Star Trek universe.
Gul Dukat Nearly Cost Picard Everything
The first skull that Q reveals to Picard in the chateau’s trophy belongs to Gul Dukat, the leader of the Cardassian Union. Q praises Dukat for putting up such a valiant fight against the Confederation’s invasion of Cardassia, mounting a last stand in the wilderness. Q remarks that the battle against Dukat resulted in Picard losing his organic body and getting a synthetic replacement that matched his prime timeline counterpart.
Dukat served as a primary antagonist in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, because he previously commanded the space station while it was under the jurisdiction of the Cardassian Union. Dukat formed a longstanding animosity with Captain Benjamin Sisko, going as far as to kill his chief science officer Jadzia Dax, before being sealed away forever in a cave by Sisko after bonding with the mythical Pah Wraiths.
Martok Led the Klingon Empire on a Futile Last Stand
The Klingon Empire is one of the most powerful civilizations in the Star Trek universe, but they’ve been completely annihilated in the world Q created. Q explains to Picard that the Confederation developed an artificial contagion that spread across the Klingon race, devastating the entire empire as the Confederation conquered them. Chancellor Martok was one of those who succumbed to the biological warfare.
Martok was introduced in DS9 as a general in the Klingon Empire — but he had been secretly replaced by a villainous Changeling, the race behind the deadly Dominion War who were also referenced in Star Trek: Discovery. The real Martok eventually escaped from captivity in the Delta Quadrant and returnd to his position of power among the Klingons, leading them in attacking the Dominion before eventually ascending to become the Empire’s chancellor.
Sarek’s Death Galvanized All of Vulcan
Even Starfleet allies were not spared from the Confederation’s wrath in Q’s reality; the Vulcans were among the civilizations targeted by the violent human aggressors. Among the skulls in Picard’s trophy room is one belonging to Sarek, one of the most respected figures in Vulcan society. Q announces that Picard decapitated Sarek on the stairs of the Vulcan Science Academy in front of his wife Amanda and their son Spock. The Vulcan Defense Forces have fought a costly war against the Confederation ever since, exacting a toll on both sides.
In the prime timeline, Sarek served as Vulcan’s ambassador to Earth. He was introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series, in which he reconciled his relationship with his son; the two had become estranged over Spock’s decision to join Starfleet rather than attend the Vulcan Science Academy. Sarek eventually succumbed to old age in Star Trek: The Next Generation after forming a deep friendship with Picard, while Star Trek: Discovery revealed that he had adopted flawed future captain Michael Burnham, raising her alongside Spock.
Laris and Zhaban Went Down Fighting
One character that Picard asks pointedly about is his Romulan friend Laris. Picard’s android companion in the Q reality reveals that Laris and her husband Zhaban were key figures in the Romulan Empire that fought against the Confederation during its invasion of Romulus. Though Laris and Zhaban are not included in Picard’s trophy room, they are listed as having been killed together defending their home planet.
Laris and Zhaban are Romulan refugees who began working at Picard’s vineyard following Romulus’ destruction in the prime timeline. Zhaban passes away between Picard Season 1 and Season 2, but Laris continues to help Picard at the vineyard — with the two contemplating embarking on their own romance before Picard decides to keep their dynamic platonic. Picard’s personal connection to both characters makes their alternate fates particularly difficult. With Season 2 also bringing back his worst enemy, Picard may have more horrifying realizations before the season ends.
Created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer and Alex Kurtzman, Star Trek: Picard releases new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.
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